We have a passion for delivering responsible business practices, driving efficiency gains, and safe guarding the natural and social environment. Our multi-disciplinary team is made up of leading scientific and business professionals.
Stewart Moore is one of the Asia Pacific’s most experienced planning and management consultants. He has over 30 years of experience in a wide range of disciplines from business and strategic planning, policy development, tourism destination management and marketing, sustainability, risk management and corporate and social responsibility.
Melinda Watt began her career as an industrial chemist, but since she stepped into the world of EarthCheck she has transitioned from scientist to senior executive of the company and finally to shareholding director. Today she performs all these roles simultaneously, while leading a team of inspiring young professionals.
David Simmons is Emeritus Professor of Tourism at Lincoln University and a global specialist in destination management. From 2008 to 2010 he was Director of Research for the Australian Federal Government’s ‘Sustainable Tourism CRC’, and has contributed to numerous national and local tourism planning exercises in his home New Zealand, and Asia and. He is committed to pushing the frontiers of tourism science and chairs the EarthCheck Research Institute.
Steve has worked as a Chief Sustainability Officer within the hospitality industry for almost a decade, giving him a deep understanding of sustainable operations, management and strategy. He has designed, led and delivered projects across all aspects of ESG, translating complex issues to actionable, targeted, initiatives across different cultures and geographies, and has produced multiple award-winning ESG investor reports. Prior to working in the hospitality industry, Steve spent ten years in academia as an ecologist specialising in ecological and climate change modelling, working in SIDS to understand and manage natural resources. Steve has spent a decade in each of the Americas and Asia, employing a stakeholder engaged approach to empower businesses to create, measure and communicate positive sustainable impact.
With over 25 years of experience in tourism and hospitality, André leads EarthCheck’s global business development and sales efforts. He works with destinations, hotel groups, and ESG teams to grow in ways that are commercially smart, community-minded, and environmentally sound. André is known for his straight-talking approach and ability to cut through complexity. His focus is on helping clients move from intention to impact and making sustainability feel practical, valuable, and grounded in real-world outcomes. He also serves as Head of International Relations for the APEC International Centre for Sustainable Tourism, supporting capacity-building and resilience across the Asia-Pacific region. When not immersed in strategy or helping brands get future-ready, André can be found riding his motorbike, experimenting in the kitchen, or digging through old records in search of the perfect soundtrack.
Nigel joined EarthCheck in 2013. Prior to joining the team, he played a leading role in England’s regional tourism sector, with Heart of England Tourist Board and as Head of Tourism with Advantage West Midlands – the regional economic development agency. He has an extensive tourism development track record, working with local, regional and national partners to support the growth of tourism businesses and destinations. Nigel has been a lifelong Glasgow Rangers fan, but since joining EarthCheck and moving to Brisbane, has adopted the state team, the Broncos.
Natasha joined EarthCheck having spent four years leading the policy and research team for the peak body for tourism in Queensland. She has a strong understanding of the political systems that govern and shape the tourism industry and how they can strengthen, or inhibit, industry success. Prior to her time at QTIC, Natasha completed her PhD at Griffith University, Brisbane. Her thesis focused on the relational ties between destination management organisations and tourism and hospitality organisations and the impact they have on destination brand buy-in. Before her post-graduate studies, she gained operational experience in luxury hotel groups in Australia and the UK and spent time working across Europe for a major UK tour operator.
Dr Antje Martins is an award-winning scientist, social sustainability specialist and EarthCheck returnee. Before completing her PhD in Sustainable Hospitality and staff engagement at the University of Queensland, she managed the EarthCheck Certification and Training programs. With her extensive professional experience in sustainability management, training and education, and her research expertise Antje is well placed to find practical, but science-backed solutions to the tourism industry’s most pressing sustainability challenges. As the Chief Training Manager, Antje’s work is focused on designing and delivering education experiences which facilitate the implementation of sustainability and achievement of ESG targets across all business levels.
Andy Vo is a dedicated sustainable design consultant currently serving as a Design Program Manager at EarthCheck. With a career spanning over a decade, Andy has established himself as a go-to-lead in sustainable engineering and energy assessment. Before joining EarthCheck, Andy was associated with organisations, including Stantec, Professional Certification Group Pty Ltd, and Certis Group, where he excelled in various roles and gained comprehensive experience.
Andy is a Queensland University of Technology graduate with a Master’s Degree in Project Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Structural Engineering. He is a Green Star Professional and is considered a subject matter expert, skilled in creating and implementing sustainable solutions that satisfy project requirements and enhance environmental outcomes.
Andy’s contributions extend beyond professional commitments. He serves as a Career Mentor at the Queensland University of Technology, where he helps shape the careers of budding professionals in the sustainability sector. His affable nature and in-depth knowledge of the industry make him a valuable member of the EarthCheck team and an inspiration to many. Always looking for ways to reduce environmental impact, Andy is admired for his tenacity, innovative approach, and commitment to driving sustainability in every project he oversees.
With over a decade of experience in events and project management, Melissa brings a wealth of expertise in stakeholder engagement and operational efficiency to EarthCheck. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (Honours) and minors in Economic Policy and Italian. She began her career on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., working closely with policymakers, before moving to the Council on Foreign Relations where she managed high-profile events attended by global leaders.
Melissa’s journey brought her to Australia in 2019, where she worked as the Communications and Events Manager at SkyPoint, Dreamworld, and WhiteWater World, refining her expertise in quality management and team leadership.
There are more than 476 million Indigenous Peoples, found in all regions of the world, from the Arctic to the tropical forests. They make up more than 6 per cent of our global population.
In the spirit of reconciliation, EarthCheck acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout the world and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous Peoples today.
EarthCheck acknowledges that Indigenous Peoples are guardians of the forests and biodiversity hotspots we all depend on. Research shows that lands managed by Indigenous Peoples, with secure rights, experience lower deforestation rates, store more carbon, hold more biodiversity, and benefit more people than other lands — including protected areas.
We recognise and support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Declaration is a positive document that maps out a path for Indigenous Peoples to be free from discrimination and secure in their identities and life choices.
EarthCheck science and products were developed by the Australian Government Sustainable Tourism Co-operative Research Centre (STCRC) over ten years. Our science is reviewed annually to ensure that it meets international standards relative to greenhouse gas protocols, responsible tourism, and certification.
EarthCheck products and services are built on the Agenda 21 principles for Sustainable Development endorsed by 182 Heads of State at the United Nations Rio De Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992 and aligned to the SDGs.
EarthCheck Certified provides a framework for organisations to achieve the desired outcomes for sustainable development as set out in the final report of the World Summit for Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002.
EarthCheck Certified complies with the Mohonk Agreement (2000), which outlines the guidelines and principles for an international sustainable tourism certification program. It is also a Recognised program of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
EarthCheck Certified is a verification standard accepted by CDP. It is also an approved program of the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China (CNCA), London & Partners, the Mexican Secretary of Tourism (SECTUR) and the City of Sydney.
EarthCheck Certified is an approved program for meeting the EU Energy Directive for the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle – BAFA) in Germany and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy) in the Netherlands.
EarthCheck partners with international research organisations to maintain the currency of EarthCheck science and our benchmarking systems.
The EarthCheck brand signifies scientific excellence, better environmental, economic, and social performance, improved community interactions, and savings through more efficient use of resources. It provides recognition and promotional support to a global consumer market.